Aviator&#39;s suit



H. W. BEALL AVIATORS SUIT Nov. 30, 1943.

2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1940 Nov. 30, 1943. H. w. BEALL 2,335,475

' AVIATORS SUIT Filed Nov. 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Shee t 2 27 glvuc/wfobHERBERT (Bf/ILL,

' walking or crouched position.

Patented Nov. 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 2,335,475 r aAVIATOR-'8 surr Herbert W. BealL- Sumter, S. 0. Application November13,1940, semi No. 365,543 40mm. (01. its-144) This invention relates toapparel apparatus and more particularly to apparel for use'as personalaviation equipment.

Apparel apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with thepresent invention contemplates a pressure-tight suit as well as a novelarrangement of pressure producing apparatus for adapting the apparel tostratosphere, high altitude or other types of flying or aviation useswhereinit is desirable to maintain a desired pressure within the suittocounteract outside atmospheric conditions.

One important is to provide aviation apparel apparatus in the form of anaviators suit or body enclosing garment which shall permit pressure tobe maintainedin the suit and at the same time permit mobility of theperson in his normal operative position which may be either sitting,standing;

Another object of the invention is to provide a pressure-tight suit ofthe character designated including a novel form of liquid and airpressure producing apparatus iorthe suit and mechanism for regulatingsuch pressures. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form ofpressure-tight garment or suit having articulated joint structure whichshall permit maximum mobility of the person while the suit and personare subjected to varying pressure conditions;

' Another object of the invention is to provide apparel apparatus of thecharacter designated which shall include fluid-tight inner and outerbody coverings in which the inner parts are constructed and arranged tohold a fluid pressure producing liquid and the outer garment includingbellows members in the regions of the joints of the body, of the personso as to permit maximum mobility of the person while wearing the suit.

Another object of ainovel term of air circulation and ventilationapparatus for the helmet and body portions of the suit. A further objectof the invention is to provide a novel form of helmet and connectionsfor attaching the same to the body portion of the suit. These and otherobjects 01 the invention will be more manifest from the followingspecification and drawings and particularly set forth in the claims. iIn the drawings: Fig. l is a view in elevation of aviation aptheinvention is to provide object of the present invention parel apparatusconstructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view partially in section, of the V apparatus shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the helmet attachingmechanism;

Fig. 4'15 a fragmentary sectional view of the quick opening device forthe helmet;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the liquidsupply valve;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a modifledform of articulated joint; 3l

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of,the device shown in Fig. 6; and

vice.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown apressure-tight aviators suit or garment constructed and arranged inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment of the invention the numeral i0 indicates an outerbody covering garment which may be made of any suitable wovenpressure-tight water-proof material such as ordinary rubberized fabricdesigned to fit the body of a person. Secured to the outer covering inis an inner body fitting suit portion I I. This inner suit is also madeof flexible water-proof fluid-tight 1 material which shall provide aliquid compartment between the inner and outer garments as more fullyhereinafter described.

The outer body garment I0 is provided at appropriate places.corresponding to the articulated sections of the persons body, withconveniently located mechanical articulated joints indicated by thenumeral 13. These joints are preferably of the restrained foldablematerial or bellows type. Furthermore, these flexible suit joints may beindividual units separably attached to the suit parts and may be made offabric or light gauge sheet metal as well known in the art, so as toinsure the desired mobility of the person while in any natural operativeposition. The extremity of each end of a bellows in the suit is attachedto the fabric'of the outer garment by clamping the same to a ringelement formed integral with the bellows, or other suitable fluid tightmaterial. Whichever method is employed it is contemplated that the jointshall be sealed so as to provide a pressure-tight joint or connection atthese several points.

One of the important features of the present.

invention is to provide a bellows joint which shall permitthe desiredfreedom of unidirectional or Fig. 8 is a modified form of liquid supplyde- It will be understood that when the suit is subjected to internalpressure, the arm and leg portions tend to balloon" or straighten outand it is necessary to restrain the bellows joints to permit mobility ofthe person while wearing the suit. Therefore, when an aviator is in anatural sitting operative position as shown in Fig. 1, certain bellowsjoints in the arm portion must permit directional motion and otherjoints must permit universal movement. The same applies to the leg partsof the suit. When it is desired to impose restraint on the bellows whichshall permit movement of the body portion in one direction, the bellowswill have diametrically opposite link connection members i l-l4 whichare coextensive with the bellows. In other words, this constructionenables the bellows to hinge with the movement of the body parts, by thepivotal end connections -45.

When a universal bellows connection is desired, this is obtained byprdviding a pair of diametrically opposite connection links l6-l6 on thebellows parts which shall pivotally connect only half the bellows, andthen provide another pair of links l'l-ll extending over the remainderof the bellows folds and disposed at right angles to the first set ofrestraining members.

The restraining link devices for the bellows folds may be made of anysuitable non-extensible material such as light metal or fabric ifdesired.

To further provide for mobility of the person and the suit when itisunder pressure and the.

aviator desires to stand erect, a flexible joint I8 is provided at theknee portion, for example, which may be expanded or contracted by meansof an adjustable fastening member such as a strap and buckle indicatedby the number l9. This arrangement permits the joint to be contracted orexpanded as desired to relieve tension on the adjacent knee bellowsmembers l3 and i4 when subjected to internal pressure. For. example,when the aviator is in sitting position the strap can be left out orexpanded as indicated and thereby permit comfort in this position, orany other normal operative position.

Another important feature of the present invention is the arrangement ofthe-fluid-tight inner receptacle or suit portion II.- This inner suitmay be in the form of a liquid-tight complete body encircling liquidcontaining suit portion, or

it may be in the form of fluid compartments.

' Whichever form is employed, one of the important features istheprovision for filling and draining the suit as desired.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the suit is filled atthe bottom portion so that the liquid may be supplied under pressure anddrained by gravity. The liquid for filling the suit may be watersupplied from a convenient source indicated by the numeral 20. Thissource is preferably a collapsible reservoir having a capacitysubstantially equal to the suit compartment and may be in the form of anordinary rubber bag. The liquid is transferred from the reservoir bymeans of a conduit 2| including a pump 22 and a controlled check valveindicated by the numeral 22', Fig. 5. The check valve includes a springpressed valve member 23 which, permits liquid to flow in one direction.When it is desired to drain the suit, the valve 23 is released by amanually operated lever indicated by the numeral 24. The lever 24 ispivotally mounted at 24' and includes an arm 23 which engages the valve23 to release thesame and permit fluid flow from the suit back to thereservoir.

the form of a bellows having rigid end wall members 25-26 and flexibleside walls 21. The bellows is actuated by a bell crank lever 28 pivotedat 29 and connected to a movable bellows end member 25 by a link 30 anda valve rod' 3| extending through a packed joint in the wall 25. Thevalv rod 3| i yieldably connected to the member 25 by a spring 32 andbracket guide 33, so that the fluid containing bellows reservoir may beyieldably collapsed to force the fluid into the suit compartment. Thelower extremity of the rod 3| is provided with a alve element 34. Avalve seat 35 is provided in the lower wall 26 and is in communicationwith the conduit 2! leading to the pump and suit compartments. Alsoassociated with the lower wall 26 and conduit 2! is a by-pass 36provided with a check valve 31 opening toward pipe 2 I.

The operation of device .enables the bellows reservoir 21 to also act asthe pump for forcing a predetermined quantity of liquid into the suit.For example, as the lever 28 is pushed down, the wall 25 is collapsedand the valv 34 yieldably engages the valve seat 35. In order for allthe liquid to leave the reservoir while under pressure of the lever 28,by-pass and valve 36 and 31 are provided. The valve 34 also positivelyholds the liquid pressure in the suit. It will also be noted that as thelever 28 is depressed, the toggle link 30 passes over center as shown indotted'line 38 and therebylocks the supply reservoir collapsed.

While I have shown the pump and valve mechanism as manually controlled,it is obvious that automatic electrical controls may be employed.

- surrounding this ring and connected thereto by diametrically oppositepivots 4040 is another ring member 4|. The outer ring members 4l-4l of ajoint are connected by a pair of diametrically opposite rigid linkmembers 42-42 pivotally connected to the rings as indicated by thenumerals 43-43. This connection in eflect provides a universalrestraining mechanism which permits the freedom of movement of theperson in all directions.

Another important feature of the invention is the ventilation system forthe suit. This includes a helmet portion 44 secured to the suit inpressure-tight relation thereto. The air ventilatin portion for the bodyincludes a pair of conduit members 45-,46 extending from the head orshoulder portion of the body to the foot portion. One of the tubes 45shall b for the purpose of admitting ventilation air into the body andthe other tube 46 shall be the return or exhaust leading to atmosphere.This arrangement provides for a complete circulation of the air betweenthe aviators body and the inner water-tight garment H, and thereby takecare of any perspiration effect which may be caused by the wearingpfthese suits.

The helmet portion 44 of the suit includes a substantially rigid flangedbase portion 41, Fig. 3,

influences to which he may be subjected.

an integral annular metal collar 48 provided with a top annular flange49 and a lower serrated portion 50. The garment I is clamped to the ringby a divided quick detachable clamping ring member the adjoining flangedends of which are drawn together by a thumb screw and bolt indicated bythe numerals 52 and 53. The lower rim of the helmet is clamped to thering section 49 by a similar form of clamping ring 54 and an innergasket member 55 to make a sealed' joint.

The head portion of the helmet is preferably made of a transparentplastic resin material such as Lucite." A helmet of this type permits apressure-tight suit having a helmet, which permits full visibility forthe aviator as he may turn his head within the helmet and observe in allpossible directions. The helmet-portion is provided with an air inletconduit indicated by the numeral 56 which may be supplied-from thesource 45. The top portions of the helmet is also provided with a reliefvalve indicated by the numeral 51. An important feature of thisconstruction is the air inlet tube 56 constructedand arranged to projecta sheet of air ove and along the inner front vision portion of thehelthe case when the suit is worn for the purpose of preventingblackout, a condition well known in the art and more fully described inmy copending ease Serial No. 357,321. I

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of a pressure-tightaviators garment it is obvious that various changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a body garment, the'combination of a fabric waterproof fluidpressure-tight outer body enclosing garment and an inner lining'ofyieldable waterproof material united with the outer garment to form aliquid-tight compartment with said outer garment, flexible joint membersprovidedat appropriate places in the outer garment met so as to preventthe collection of fog or mist I occasioned by the ordinary breathing orrespiration of the aviator during normal respiration.

Another feature of the suit construction is that it may be madeadjustable Within certain limits to fit different sized persons bysuitable lacings, not shown The suit is closed by quick detachablefastening devices such as a zipper indicated by the numeral 58, althoughlacings may be employed for this purpose if desired. The interior of thegarment I0 is provided with a gusset indicated by dotted lines 59. Thissusset makes a pressure-tight connection along the body and also at theneck portion of the suit where it joins the helmet. Regardless ofwhether lacings or zipper closures are employed, it is necessary toemploy a gusset to insure against leakage of pressure from within thesuit. These fastening means also facilitate putting on and taking offthe suit.

It will be noted that the several novel features of constructioncooperate to provide a pressuretight garment which shall enable a personto have complete freedom of action or mobility in any natural operativeposition which he may assume. Furthermore, the garment is designed to iprovide maximum comfort to the wearer and enable him to manipulate thevarious controls which regulate the flow of the several fluidswhich flowto the suit to accomplish the desired result of aiding the aviator incounteracting the. atmospheric In some cases, the air supply may includeair or oxygen or combinations of these gases, and differentiates fromliquid for producing the hydroto permit mobility of the wearer when thegarment is subjected to internal pressure, means for admitting andcontrolling liquid pressure to said compartment and means for admittingand controlling fluid pressure to the interior of the garment.

2. An articulated pressure-containing suit of non-expandable materialand an inner member of fluid tight material forming a liquid holdingcompartment, and means for supplying liquid to said compartment at thebottom portion thereof and for maintaining the pressure of said liquidin said compartment.

3. An aviators suit of the character described comprising a fluidpressure-tight suit, a helmet portion of transparent material, means forconnecting the helmet to the neckportion of the suit and in air tightrelation therewith and in- I eluding a substantially rigid flangedconnection pressure-tight material, comprising arm, body and legenclosing portions and a helmet headenclosing portion detachablyconnected to the body enclosing portion at the neck region thereof, ajoint formed of flexible material at appropriate plates in the suit topermit relative movement of the body members of a wearer, and meansassociated with the flexible joint for preventing elongation of thejoint material when pressure is applied to the interior of the suit,

static pressure in the suit compartment which enclose the persons body.This is particularly whereby each unrestrained portion of the suitassumes a preformed normal operative, position when subjected to suchinternal pressure.

HERBERT W. BEALL.

